The owner of several McDonald's restaurants in Canton is apologizing for including GOP campaign materials with workers' paychecks, along with a note that said their pay and benefits would suffer unless the "right people are elected."

"If the right people are elected, we will be able to continue with raises and benefits at or above our present levels," said the letter that franchisee Paul Siegfried distributed on McDonald's stationery. "If others are elected, we will not."

A worker who was upset about the flier forwarded it to Canton attorney Allen Schulman, who asked Canton Law Director Joe Martuccio to investigate. The unnamed worker did not want to take public legal action for fear of jeopardizing his or her job, Schulman said in a letter to Martuccio. Schulman said the communication violates both state and federal election law.

"Our client was shocked and outraged at the implicit threat of financial retaliation if the corporation's chosen clients did not prevail," Schulman's letter to Martuccio said.

Martuccio said his office is determining who should investigate the allegation.

"This is the first time I have been aware of anybody complaining of a heavy-handed note in their paycheck," Martuccio said. "The proper protocol is important here. It could be something the County Board of Elections or the Ohio Secretary of State might look at."

Dan Tokaji, associate director of Ohio State University Law School's election law project, said Siegfried's communication appears to violate a state law that bans companies from distributing handbills that threaten workplace repercussions if particular candidates aren't elected.

Siegfried issued a written apology on Friday that was relayed to reporters by a McDonald's regional marketing manager. It said employees have a right to vote for whomever they choose.

"Distributing this communication was an error of judgment on my part," Siegfried's statement said. "Please know it was never my intention to offend anyone. For those that I have offended, I sincerely apologize."

McDonald's USA issued a statement that said the company respects its employees' diverse opinions, and "had no knowledge of this material being distributed" by its franchisee.

"The content of this material is not reflective of McDonalds' position," said the statement from Shirley Rogers Reece, General Manager of McDonalds' Ohio Region. "We remain bipartisan on these matters. That said, while clearly this was poor judgment, we don't believe it was intended to offend anyone."

Renacci's campaign said the material was not distributed at its request, and the campaign did not know about it, said spokesman James Slepian.

Rep. John Boccieri, whom Renacci is challenging in the election, issued a statement that said, in part: "In America, the people decide who represents them, not corporations. Our right to vote is sacred and people should have confidence that they can cast their vote this year, and any year, without being intimidated at the workplace."

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